Research Methods, Statistics, and Applications
SAGE Journal Articles
Journal Article 1: Eakman, A. M., Schmid, A. A., Henry, K. L., Rolle, N. R., Schelly, C., Pott, C. E., & Burns, J. E. (2017). Restoring effective sleep tranquility (REST): A feasibility and pilot study. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 80, 350–360. doi:10.1177/0308022617691538
Learning Objectives: 9-1: The key components necessary to test cause and effect. | 9-2: How to design an experiment. | 9-5: How to balance internal and external validity in an experiment.
Summary: This is a pilot correlational study on a sleep intervention.
Questions to Consider:
- Which requirements of causality are met by this study, and which requirement is not met?
- How might one design a simple experiment that follows up on the results of this study?
- How might one balance internal and external validity in the follow-up experiment?
Journal Article 2: Choudhary, D., Bhattacharyya, S., & Joshi, K. (2017). Body weight management in adults under chronic stress through treatment with Ashwagandha root extract: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Evidence-based Complimentary & Alternative Medicine, 22, 96–106. doi:10.1177/2156587216641830
Learning Objectives: 9-1: The key components necessary to test cause and effect. | 9-2: How to design an experiment. | 9.3: How to manipulate an independent variable (IV). | 9-4: How to measure a dependent variable (DV).
Summary: This article reports the method and results of an experiment comparing the efficacy of Ashwagandha root extract to a placebo.
Questions to Consider:
- What was the independent variable (IV) in this study and how did the researchers manipulate the IV?
- What was the dependent variable (DV) in this study and how did the researchers measure the DV?
- What procedures did the researchers use to minimize or avoid threats to internal validity?
Journal Article 3: Green, J. (2010). Points of intersection between randomized experiments and quasi-experiments. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 628, 97–111. doi:10.1177/0002716209351517
Learning Objectives: 9-1: The key components necessary to test cause and effect. | 9-2: How to design an experiment. | 9-5: How to balance internal and external validity in an experiment. | 9-6: Limitations of experimental design.
Summary: This is a review of the benefits and limitations of quasi-experiments and “pure” experiments.
Questions to Consider:
- What are the similarities and differences between quasi-experiments and “pure” experiments?
- What are the threats to internal validity in quasi-experiments?
- What are the threats to external validity in pure experiments?